Vista - Cannot do automatic updates for Avast and Taxcut

I have a problem with the Avast 4.8 and Taxcut 2008 automatic updates. I am running vista home premium - 64 bit version. I suspect there is something in vista security or networking causing the problem, probably unique to the 64 bit version. Anyone have any ideas?

I have user account control, Windows firewall and windows defender turned off. I do not use a proxy server and connect through the internet via DSL. New HP portable with 4GB ram.

Taxcut support were useless - basically said they had no idea. Avast is still reviewing.

What exactly is the problem? What is the error that you are getting?

I know you said that firewall is off but, why don't you try to make sure that both Avast & Taxcut are Unblocked from it by Enableing them on your firewall?

For AVAST I get a pop up error message that says "cannot connect to 209.62.112.162:80' and those IP addresses change each time. I did enable avast in the firewall settings to bypass. Still the same problem. I also enabled Deduction pro as it was a choice to bypass in the firewall.

With Taxcut I get message "cannot connect to Server", With Deduction Pro I get message that it cannot connect to the server.

Adding the bypass in the windows firewall had no effect.

I am having the same problem with my NEW HP pavillion using Vista. HP support says it is Norton (which is disconnected). Tax Cut is enabled in the firewall settings. Tax Cut support says to install service pack 4 for Internet Explorer 7, and I cannot find this update for Vista! Anyone with an idea?

I am having problems with any software that connects to the internet.